Probiotics include beneficial microbes. These are living microbes that, when taken, can give health advantages. These advantages are assumed to stem from probiotics' ability to restore the normal balance of gut microorganisms. When there is an imbalance, there are too many harmful bacteria and not enough healthy bacteria. It can occur as a result of sickness, medicine such as antibiotics, poor nutrition, and other factors.

Consequences might include digestive difficulties, allergies, mental health troubles, obesity, and other disorders. Probiotics are most often found in fermented foods or as supplements. Furthermore, they appear to be safe for the majority of individuals.

Probiotics are well known for their ability to prevent or alleviate diarrhea. The usual adverse effect of antibiotics is diarrhea. It happens because antibiotics can disrupt the balance of healthy and harmful bacteria in the stomach. Several studies show that taking probiotics reduces the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Probiotics were reported to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 42% in one trial. Probiotics can also aid with diarrhea that isn't caused by antibiotics.

A thorough evaluation of 35 research discovered that specific probiotic strains can cut the duration of infectious diarrhea by an average of 25 hours. Probiotics lowered the risk of diarrhea among travelers by 8%. They also reduced the risk of diarrhea from other sources in infants by 57% and in adults by 26%. The effectiveness of probiotics varies depending on the type and amount used. Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii are the strains most typically associated with a lower risk of diarrhea.

A growing body of research connects gut health to mood and mental health. Probiotic supplements have been shown in both animal and human trials to treat several mental health issues. According to a study of 15 human research, taking Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains for 1-2 months can help with anxiety, sadness, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and memory.

For six weeks, one researcher tracked 70 chemical employees. Those who ingested 100 grams of probiotic yogurt each day or took a probiotic pill every day saw improvements in their overall health, depression, anxiety, and stress. Benefits were also shown in a trial of 40 depressed individuals. Taking probiotic supplements for 8 weeks reduced melancholy as well as C-reactive protein (an inflammatory marker) and hormones such as insulin when compared to persons who did not take a probiotic.

Probiotics may aid in the health of your heart by decreasing LDL ("bad") cholesterol and blood pressure. Certain lactic acid-producing bacteria may lower cholesterol in the stomach by breaking down bile. Bile, a naturally occurring fluid composed primarily of cholesterol, aids digestion. Probiotics can prevent bile from being reabsorbed in the intestine and entering the bloodstream as cholesterol by breaking it down. A meta-analysis of five research indicated that eating a probiotic yogurt for two to eight weeks lowered total cholesterol by 4% and LDL cholesterol by 5%.

Another 6-month trial revealed no changes in total or LDL cholesterol. The researchers did discover a slight rise in HDL ("good") cholesterol. Probiotics may also help to reduce blood pressure. A meta-analysis of nine research indicated that probiotic supplements lower blood pressure, albeit only marginally. To experience any blood pressure advantages, supplementation has to last at least 8 weeks and include 10 million colony-forming units (CFUs) each day.

Certain probiotic strains may help children and newborns with eczema. In one research, babies provided probiotic-supplemented milk had better eczema symptoms than newborns fed non-probiotic milk. Another research monitored the offspring of pregnant mothers who took probiotics.

In the first two years of life, the youngsters had an 83% decreased chance of acquiring eczema. However, the association between probiotics and decreased eczema severity remains shaky, and additional study is needed. Some probiotics may help lessen inflammatory reactions in those who are allergic to milk or dairy. However, the data is shaky, and further research is needed.

In the United States, about one million people suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Probiotics from the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains have been shown to relieve symptoms in persons with moderate ulcerative colitis. Surprisingly, one research discovered that supplementing with the probiotic E. coli Nissle was just as beneficial as medications in keeping ulcerative colitis patients in remission.

However, probiotics appear to have minimal effect on Crohn's disease symptoms. However, probiotics may be beneficial for other gastrointestinal diseases. According to a preliminary study, they may assist with the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). They have also been demonstrated to significantly minimize the incidence of severe necrotizing enterocolitis. This is a deadly gastrointestinal disorder that affects preterm babies.

Probiotics may assist to enhance your immune system and prevent the formation of dangerous gut bacteria. Furthermore, several probiotics have been proven to increase the body's synthesis of natural antibodies. They may also increase the number of immune cells such as IgA-producing cells, T lymphocytes, and natural killer cells. According to a major review, ingesting probiotics lowered the frequency and duration of respiratory infections. However, the evidence was of poor quality.

Another research with approximately 570 children showed that consuming Lactobacillus GG decreased the incidence and severity of respiratory infections by 17%. Lactobacillus crispatus, a probiotic, has also been proven to lower the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women by 50%.

Probiotics may aid in weight loss through a variety of processes. Some probiotics, for example, inhibit the absorption of dietary fat in the gut. Instead of being stored in the body, the fat is expelled through feces. Probiotics may also assist you in feeling fuller for longer periods of time, burning more calories, and storing less fat. This is due in part to increased levels of certain hormones, such as GLP-1. They may also immediately aid in weight loss. Dieting women who took Lactobacillus rhamnosus for three months lost 50% more weight than those who did not.

Another research of 210 participants revealed that eating even modest dosages of Lactobacillus gasseri for 12 weeks reduced abdominal fat by 8.5%. It is crucial to note, however, that not all probiotics benefit from weight reduction. Surprisingly, several studies have discovered that some probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, might actually cause weight gain.